The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-28

eral or efficient development Of educ
ational reform. The superior class
of the State, during the past twenty
years, under circumstances that
would have appalled, less resolute
and determined people, have iAau-
gurated and put in operation in
every county in the State. an ef-
ficient system of public schools, and
have rendered vaore efficient and en-
larged their old system Of secondary
and higher seminaries of learning.
And it can he said without the fear
of successful contradiction or DIS
paragement, that no body of super
ior people, So few in numbers. have
ever male an effort SO heroic, with
such an anspicious outlook, as the
people of this and the other Southern
States Of this Union. This year, it
is safe to say, that North Carolina
will expend in her public schools Of
all grades not less than $7O0,0O0.O0
and from the public prints the same
liberal spirit seems to pervade
throughout the otherSoutherAStates.
Still, this is only the beginning
and Is, at best, so obviously IN
adequate to accomplish the result,
that it does not become US to waste
time in extending congratulations,
but to press onward to the still
more important work of the necessary
awakening Of the aUhole people of the
State from their lethargy and luke
acormness on this naoment0us s',bject.
For, be it understood, have lies the
cause of the in efficiency Of the work
ing, often the discouraging failure,
of the best plans that may be sug>
gested Or adopted.
In every community, there are
men of more or less wealth and in.
duence not yet alive to this power
full necessity of the people.
In this, speak what do know
1t is painfully true that there are
many reasonably prosperous and res
pectable parents, who seem only
concerned for their own children !,
not over and above intelligently in
| formed of the demands the public
have on them. And yet, there is
that mighty army Of those to whom
! the priceless education is
only vague name-at best with
them only name to charm-who
either care nothing for education or
school Or abuse it by ignorant in
reference with every thing laudakly
attempted therein.
1t is not my purpose here to give
my opinion Of compulsory" sduc-
tion but in Prussia. the method of
dealing with such situation of
things as above cited. would be, to
mature plan, enact a law, place the
teacher IN the school room, and an
officer at the parents elbow .and en-.
force such elementary instruction as
the State should deem necessary.
But it Is needless for me to say, this
is no. our plan-not the Southern
plan.
Il has been said, that no where in
/ our whole country, has the more
enlightened classes Of society, sc
great an influence for good, as in the
South yet after all, its power is
only moral and it's only successful
implement is agitation.
Any enc can lead the horse te
water. bus defy all the world te
make him drink unless he is dry
Let us examine and look
, we'll to it. Until this i.
done, and that in the interest of the
masses, our whole school system
: rom the clapboard cabin in tb'
sequestered nook, to our State I'm
, i've, sity. will be as a frail bark
ossed up on the waves of treacher
Gus. tempestuous and boisterou'
| ocean.
, when this, is. accomplished. ther'
is bound, in the nature Of things. t.
: be an ushe4rd of improvement
} Better teachers will be in dem and
5 and in innumerable ways, now, b,
, fogies deemed impossible the ne
: cessarY means will flow in t.
y help rear this grand edi6ce toward
heaven. Bear in mind; this gram
It aaoa tening is not to be achieved--i
n the main by laborers from without
' but it is duty devolv;ng and dt